Bill Legend
Encyclopedia
Bill Legend was the drummer for glam rock
band T.Rex during their most successful period.
One of three children, Bill worked as a commercial artist after leaving school, while playing the drums for a variety of bands. He was drumming under his real name for a group called Legend, fronted by Mickey Jupp
, when Marc Bolan
, the man behind the new-found success of T. Rex, spotted him and asked producer Tony Visconti
to approach him.
Bill agreed to give it a try and immediately bought a number of the old T.Rex albums from their days as Tyrannosaurus Rex in order to familiarise himself with Bolan's previous work. At the time, T.Rex had enjoyed their first hit single with "Ride a White Swan". Bolan and his percussionist Mickey Finn
had already recruited a bassist
in Steve Currie
but still needed a drummer to complete the rhythm section
of their new electric direction. Bill's first works were playing drums on "Hot Love" and the B-side "Woodland Rock" while T.Rex stayed as a Three-Piece for a short period. So Finn had been forced to mime playing the drums on Top of the Pops
when Hot Love was at No. 1.
Legend was given his stage name
by Bolan, who suggested the new name, based on the band Legend he had been playing in with Micky Jupp.
Legend played drums for T.Rex on 4 albums ("Electric Warrior", "The Slider", "Tanx" and "Zinc Alloy") until 1973, when the band began to disintegrate after the hits dried up. They had enjoyed four UK No. 1 singles and four UK No. 2 singles in a three year period. Legend reverted to session drumming afterwards.
Bolan (in 1977) and Currie (in 1981) both died in car crashes, Steve Peregrin Took choked to death in 1980, and Finn succumbed to illness in 2003.
As of 2011, Legend is the only surviving member of the 1970-1973 T.Rex lineup. He has seven children six boys and one girl and lives in California U.S.A
Bill Legend has a brother David, who has retired as a woodwork teacher in Tauranga Boys' College
, New Zealand.
Legend also plays drums regularly at Elim Christian Centre, Chelmsford, Essex. Legend's homepage, where he tells about his years with T. Rex:
He has a sister, Eileen, who lives in Pitsea Essex. His father is still living, and re-married four years ago (2006 ) at the age of 86.
On 25 March 2011, Bill's Dad passed away at the grand age of nearly 91, he was a very proud man and had a full and eventful life.
Bill got married in 2010 to an American lady and now lives in California.
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band T.Rex during their most successful period.
One of three children, Bill worked as a commercial artist after leaving school, while playing the drums for a variety of bands. He was drumming under his real name for a group called Legend, fronted by Mickey Jupp
Mickey Jupp
Michael 'Mickey' Jupp is an English musician and songwriter, mainly associated with the Southend music scene....
, when Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
, the man behind the new-found success of T. Rex, spotted him and asked producer Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
to approach him.
Bill agreed to give it a try and immediately bought a number of the old T.Rex albums from their days as Tyrannosaurus Rex in order to familiarise himself with Bolan's previous work. At the time, T.Rex had enjoyed their first hit single with "Ride a White Swan". Bolan and his percussionist Mickey Finn
Mickey Finn
Mickey Finn may refer to:* Mickey Finn , a drug-laced drink* Mickey Finn , a long-running comic strip* Micky Finn , a fictional character and pseudonym of the 19th century writer Ernest Jarrold...
had already recruited a bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in Steve Currie
Steve Currie
Steve Currie was born in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England. He was best known as the bass player and long term member of the English glam rock band T.Rex....
but still needed a drummer to complete the rhythm section
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
of their new electric direction. Bill's first works were playing drums on "Hot Love" and the B-side "Woodland Rock" while T.Rex stayed as a Three-Piece for a short period. So Finn had been forced to mime playing the drums on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
when Hot Love was at No. 1.
Legend was given his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
by Bolan, who suggested the new name, based on the band Legend he had been playing in with Micky Jupp.
Legend played drums for T.Rex on 4 albums ("Electric Warrior", "The Slider", "Tanx" and "Zinc Alloy") until 1973, when the band began to disintegrate after the hits dried up. They had enjoyed four UK No. 1 singles and four UK No. 2 singles in a three year period. Legend reverted to session drumming afterwards.
Bolan (in 1977) and Currie (in 1981) both died in car crashes, Steve Peregrin Took choked to death in 1980, and Finn succumbed to illness in 2003.
As of 2011, Legend is the only surviving member of the 1970-1973 T.Rex lineup. He has seven children six boys and one girl and lives in California U.S.A
Bill Legend has a brother David, who has retired as a woodwork teacher in Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College is a state secondary school for boys, located on the edge of the downtown area of Tauranga, New Zealand. The school was founded in 1958. The school prides itself on its successful involvement in academia, sport and the arts.-History:...
, New Zealand.
Legend also plays drums regularly at Elim Christian Centre, Chelmsford, Essex. Legend's homepage, where he tells about his years with T. Rex:
He has a sister, Eileen, who lives in Pitsea Essex. His father is still living, and re-married four years ago (2006 ) at the age of 86.
On 25 March 2011, Bill's Dad passed away at the grand age of nearly 91, he was a very proud man and had a full and eventful life.
Bill got married in 2010 to an American lady and now lives in California.